Starting with Roehl in February

Granted that training in the winter is not ideal. But also consider that if you can complete training in the winter, it does not get much worse on the road.

I completed CDL school and orientation in August / September. I had to learn how to drive a truck in the snow and ice when going over Donner Pass. Trial by fire is no fun.

 

Roehl policy, unless they have changed it, and I doubt they have, is: You will not chain up unless it is to get to the next safe parking spot.

Half of orientation was learning that SAFETY is the cornerstone of their values system. It is a value, and not a priority, because priorities can change; values should not.

 

One of the few downsides of driving for the company that I currently do, is that "the load will go unless the road is closed." Which means we get a lot of chaining practice in during these next few months.

 

Perhaps Roehl is the exception, but most companies make a big noise about safety during orientation, training, any time something bad happens, or whenever someone asks about it - but when it comes up against production... well... the song and dance remain the same, but the tune changes.

It's a lot easier to sing the song than to play the tune, and this is reflected in the fact that compensation and ongoing employment are invariably tied to production, while only continued employment is tied to safety - occasionally there are pathetically small bonuses tied to safety, but nothing to counterbalance the payroll value of, say, driving 5mph faster against choosing not to do so. Safety is achieved at your expense. Here's an example:

Even at 30 cents per mile (cpm) an extra 5mph is about $60 in a 40-hour week of highway driving. A 2 cpm safety bonus amounts to $40 in a 2000 mile week. Most places offer a penny or less per mile, as a safety bonus, pay more per mile, and run more hours/miles per week - and pay the safety bonus only if you qualify - or your fleet qualifies - for the entire quarter or year... so these figures are deeply slanted towards safety, and still fail to emphasize it over production.

Understand that safety is everyone's job - but ultimately, your responsibility, more-or-less alone, since your carrier will typically not stand behind you when something bad happens - except to stab you in the back. You are the one that gets injured or killed. You are the one that loses your job, and probably your career. You are the one that gets the citation and/or goes to jail. You are the one that has to live with the knowledge of what happened, and your part in it. It's all you, baby, except for the civil lawsuit, which you might still share in the responsibility for - and your carrier has insurance for that... the rates for which rely heavily upon their eagerness to disclaim responsibility to anyone and everyone else, including you.

Just because they make a big noise about safety, doesn't mean that they'll back that up, when the music starts playing. Dance the dance as if they had their hand on your behind - because that's likely the case. And if it's not, then no harm, no foul. Here's hoping for the latter - but don't let that stop you from preparing for the former...

Do learn how to chain up. It's unpleasant and uncomfortable, and you won't want to do it twice... but make sure that you do it, start to finish, at least once. Chains will get you out of a jam, someday, and you'll be glad that you learned how to do it, even while you hope that you never have to do it again...

 

RoseWild, thanks for starting this post. I am at present talking with Roehl about heading along this path and have today been looking for reviews on various companies. Every company has bad reviews from mostly ex-employees which left me uncertain as to which direction to go I. Do I tie myself to a contract to get "free" training or do I get into debt to give myself the option of choosing a company without tying myself down. But then who would hire me with a license and no experience whatsoever.

So now I have read all 18 pages and like all the positive comments on Roehl.

I am right behind you.

 

At least a dozen companies will hire you with no experience and then reimburse your school tuition directly to you. CDL school wouldn't exist if no company was hiring their graduates.
Roehl is ok to get started with, but so are many other companies that hire new cdl grads.
New cdl grads from Gilbert:
ABF Freight - Teamsters union company. Work there 5 yrs. and you're vested for a pension.Class A CDL Permit, required. This position involves attending an ABF Freight approved Driver Training School....
Freymiller - hires new cdl grads through their "Restore Program."
Titan Transfer
Watkins-Shepard
Navajo Express
KKW Trucking
Mountain Valley Express - LTL outfit
Pride Transport

Lily Transportation - Paid training for those with less than 1 yr. experience
Satellite radio
refrigerator
microwave
excercise rail & band
flat panel TV
temperature controlled seats
etc.
Yes, Roehl is ok too! I'm not trying to sway you away from Roehl; just showing you drivers with no experience have plenty of options.